Zinc and Growth with Picky Eating in a Jordan Pediatric Clinic: An Observational Study

Zinc and growth in pediatric with picky eating

Authors

  • Amjad Tarawneh Associate Professor of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrics, Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mu’tah University, Karak, Jordan,
  • Haitham Al-Dhmour Pediatric Specialist and Lecturer, Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mu’tah University, Karak, Jordan.
  • Rami Almajali Consultant Pediatric Hematooncology, Assistant professor of pediatric Hematooncology at Pediatric Department, Mu’tah University, Karak, Jordan.
  • Fadi Sawaqed Associate Professor, Department of Special Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mu’tah University, Karak, Jordan.
  • Aseel Al-Dmour Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mu’tah University, Karak, Jordan.
  • Samir Mahgoub Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Mu’tah University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology faculty of Medicine, Al-Minia University, Al-Minia, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35516/jmj.v58i3.1249

Keywords:

Picky eating, nutrition, eating behavior, anemia, zinc deficiency

Abstract

Background: Picky eating is a common feeding disorder in early childhood, characterized by a refusal to eat familiar foods or try new ones. This disorder can lead to nutritional deficiencies as well as impacting growth and development. The study aimed to determine whether picky eating is related to low serum zinc levels and growth in southern Jordan.

Methods: Data collection was based on history taking and the physical examination of all examined patients at the pediatric clinic of Al-Karak Teaching Hospital. The collected data included hair loss, other signs of zinc deficiency, weight for age (Z-score), income category of the family, and the presence of underlying diseases. Blood levels of zinc, vitamin D, ferritin and hemoglobin were determined, and the results were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and t-tests.

Results: An association was found between low serum zinc levels and low weight for age Z-scores, confirming the relationship between zinc deficiency and underlying general nutritional deficiencies, such as celiac disease and acrodermatitis enteropathica, which were rare (4 out of 118 studied cases); however, these patients had severely low serum zinc levels compared to the nutritional causes. On the other hand, the income category of the patient’s family could not reliably predict low serum zinc levels.

Conclusion: Picky eating is associated with lower weight for age, hemoglobin levels, and vitamin D levels, thereby suggesting that picky eating can lead to a wide range of nutritional deficiencies beyond just zinc deficiency.

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Published

2024-08-27

How to Cite

Tarawneh, A., Al-Dhmour, H. ., Almajali, R. ., Sawaqed, F. ., Al-Dmour, A., & Mahgoub, S. . . (2024). Zinc and Growth with Picky Eating in a Jordan Pediatric Clinic: An Observational Study: Zinc and growth in pediatric with picky eating. Jordan Medical Journal, 58(3). https://doi.org/10.35516/jmj.v58i3.1249

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 3 (2024)

Section

Articles